C12 12

“THANK you very much for a blouse and skirt, Señorito Deive. Now I look like Anne Curtis and Merian de Vera," Marina referred to her favorite actors she watched on TV as she pressed her new dressed to her body. "Even a hunchback like me would look good in these.”

That afternoon when he arrived with groceries and other supplies. He did not forget to give somethings for the the elderly caretakers of the mansion and Marina as well. Marina was happy because aside from the Lopez family, it was the only time that she received gifts.

"I am so thankful that you take care of Callea," Deive said in an appreciative tone.

The pink bolero looked goof on her. It was loose to fit the defect in her back. "No need to thank me. I will take care of Señorita Callea becase I owe her my life. If not because of her, I would be dead at the streets a long time ago. She’s the first person who treated me like a normal human being, better than my how my own blood treats me.”

Callea really had a good heart, far fro the negative perceptions of other people about her. She treat it people right with no discrimination on his or her looks and background. She loved taking care of people and Deive wanted to take care of her in return.

"Can you help me, Marina?" asked Deive in a hush voice.

Her eyes widened. "Yes, I can. I am willing to do anything."

“Are there really ghost sightings in Villa Celesta? There are rumors all over town. Even the locals fear this place.”

Marina threw back her head and laughed. "You are a city boy, Señorito. Why are you are you bothered with these rumors?"

"But I myself saw the bloody woman in the garden. I was personally scratched by her evil cat. And last night I heard the voice of the woman crying. I think they are the same. Who is she? What does she need from me? Do you think she has a message for me to deliver or I need to do things for her so her soul can rest? Do I have a third eye?”

Marina became serious and gently fold the clothes. "What did I tell on your first day here? Don't get out of your room at night whatever you hear."

"It means there is a ghost here? Callea knows about it? Because I won’t let her live here anymore if she knows!” he growled.

Marina just turned her back on him. “Go to Señorita Callea, Sir. She had been worried sick about you.

It was so damn frustrating. It was not just his imagination. If Marina knew something, why not tell him to start with? As if his discovery was not important.Was she not worried about Callea? Or she was just scared that the ghost would do worse to her?

There seems to be a known Marina but why won't it directly to him? Like it just ignore the findings. Isn't it worrying to Callea? I fear it also could not only speak?

How could his angel stand living in that rundown mansion with ghosts? If the ghost hurt him on his first day, home much more someone who had been living there for a long time? Didn’t he hear the cries coming for her room last night?

He steadied his resolve. He will not yield to fear. He was ready to protect his future bride.

HAND under her chin, Callea looked up at the bats hanging on the ceiling of the attic.

The sun was starting to set and the bats were starting to wake up and create squeaky sounds. Any moment they would take flight to find food. They were hunters of the night and as a mistress of the night, she was fascinated with these understood mammals. Silly people were scared of these animals due to the horror stories that were told about them. They were not even aware of their benefits to the environment. They became a permanent resident at the Villa Callea.

“Oh! There’s a baby bat there. It has been days before I went up here again and you got additional cutie in the family.”

She didn’t allow Luna to come up at the attic because it would bother the bats. The bats are also her friends. She can get inspiration from them. Even Marina and old caretaker don’t bother them.

“Ah! Grandma Celesta told me a story about your ancestors,” she told the bats. “I will read you a story.” She turned to the old book of stories written by her grandmother. All were fictional and she wanted to pass it on to her children and her grandchildren to remember her by.

It was starting to get dark and she couldn’t see the letters at the old paper anymore. She lit the candle. There a light bulb in the room but she still prefered to use the candles when in the attic. She wanted to go back to how her ancestors did things.

“This is it. You listen to me first before you leave," she said and picked the candle holder in one hand and a book in the other.

She paused with her storytelling him when she was bothered by knock. "Callea! Callea!" called by Deive.

“Just wait there," she said and set the book on the table. She opened the door, holding a candle in one hand. "Yes?"

"Whoa!" exclaimed Deive and suddenly stepped back. "Callea?"

“What? Do you think I’m a ghost.”

He breathe deeply and cupped his chest. "Why did you put the candle on your face?" He took the candle holder from here. “Is there no light bulb in here or electric connection? What is you caused a fire?”

"Not really! Where have you been, by the way. I was worried about you earlier because you just left this mornig without a word. " She was excited to give him a tour around the house and she even cleared her schedule. So she was concerned when come lunchtime and he hadn’t returned yet. She thought that he totally scared him off and he no longer had plans to get to know her more and marry her.

"I am back! Didn't I call earlier that I just need to do something important?"

"I’m sorry. I was worried,” she whispered in a sad voice.

She was excited to give him a tour. She even asked everyone to clean up so it won’t be embarrasing to present him the mansion. Then he just bailed out. Just like the first time when he didn’t arrive for dinner.

"Maybe you haven't eaten yet," Callea added with worry.

She was looking for his company. Maybe she was just looking for someone else to talk to with different ideas and experiences. She learned a lot from him.

“I met up with my brother, Keiran. We already had lunch. We just had someone important issues to settle.” He entered into the room and pressed the switch of the light. "I heard your voice a while ago. Who are you talking to?" He glanced around the room with suspicon. When he didn’t see anything strange, he closed the window. It nterrupted the bats and flew above their heads. "Bats! Bats!" he yelled and started to panic.

He pulled her hand and run out of the room while still carry the candles. He didn’t stop until they were down the second floor. It was as if the devil was running after them. He was running out of breath so was she.

He touched her shoulder then her arms. “Are you okay? Did those monsters bit you?”

“What monsters? Those are just bats and they are harmless.”

"What if they become vampires and suck the blood from your neck? What if they turn you into a vampire as well?"

"You believe in one?" Callea let out a light laughed. "They are just harmless nocturnal flying mammals."

He tightly in her hand. "I am serious. I am just trying to protect you."

As they walked down the stairs, he held her tightly against his body then looked back every now and then to check if the bats were following them. He volunteered himself as her human shield.

She wanted to reprimand him and tell him to stop overreacting over a bunch of bats. But she also love the feeling of being caged in his arms. She was used to being independent and fending off herself. She smelled his manly cologne and his natural scent taking over her senses. How could she say no to this sensation?

He only calmed down when they reached the living room and released her. "Look. I have something for you.”

At the living room, several paperbags with logo of different clothing line. He pulled out each items inside the paper bags with glee. The dresses were colorful and fresh. The prints were fun and youthful. It was definitely not her style. "I shouldnt have bothered buying stuffs for me. I have many clothes ... "

"I want you to wear this. You will look beautiful on it."

"Okay," she softly answered and accepted the dress. She didn't have the heart to say no to him. She surely won’t melt if she wore it once.

"Who are you talking to earlier?" Deive asked.

"Ha?" He had heard it. She can no tell him its the bats. He would definitely drive her to the mental hospital. "I read the book of Grandma Celesta. I prefer to read them out loud. She had many different old book. And some of them, she made herself. That’s what she read to her kids. I think I got my writing talent from her." She looked up to the the paintings of Grandma Celesta hanging in the living room. "We look alike. That is why I love this House. I also feel protected here."

His eyes sparkled as if something dawned in him. She was not prepapred when he suddenly pull her and hold tightly against his body. "I will protect you, too, Callea."

She stood still for a while, savoring the heat of his body. After a while, she slowly closed her eyes. She embraced his promise. She also would like to have someone to protect her.

But does she know Deive completely? Can he protect her from the ghosts that she feared? She would forget about

that ghosts first. Now, she is just a normal woman. She will will return to her real world tonight.

But for now, she wanted to feel free at the cocoon of his embrace.

Deive was ready for battle. It was close to midnight. There is antique cross from his family’s mini museum, a bundle of Dead Sea salt, and a chain of garlic that he wore around his waist like a belt. He also wore a red shirt so lost souls won’t come near him. He did all the susperstitions that her grandmother used to tell him. He didn’t mind if he was starting to get dizzy with the smell of garlic. What mattered was he could protect Callea and she could live a normal life.

He finished chatting with Callea around ten in the evening. He wanted to make sure that she’s in deep slumber when he fights the evil in the mansion. Once the bad spirits are defeated, Callea will love him. And she would also won’t think twice in marrying him.

"It is time," he muttered when he saw at the clock the it was five more minutes before midnight. He came out of the room. He held the cross infront of him and serveed as his protection with each step. The night was still quiet. A few steps from Callea’s room he heared a voice of a woman singing.

Giliw, bakit mo ako nilisan? (My dear, why did you leave me?)

Paano na ang puso kong sa iyo ay umaasam? (My heart is longing for you.)

It was an old song called kundiman. The voice was beautiful, engaging and he could feel the sorrow in every word. But he didn't have time to emphatize. He was sure that the one singing was the same woman who appeared to the other night. This was the same woman who was crying.

He ran to Callea’s room. The song was coming from her room. Maybe the ghost was hurting her now. He must protect, Callea.

With closed fist he pounded the door with all his might. "Callea! Callea!"

His heart was knocking in his chest when he did not hear an answer from her. He did not think twice and beat the door. He tried the doorknob and he was thankful that it gave way. He opened the door, he held the cross on his right and a flashlight on the other. The song of the woman went on but there’s nobody else inside the room. Callea was the only one lying in the middle of the bed, a candle was lighted on the bedside.

She was lying straight and and her hands were crossed on her chest. He didn’t know if she was breathing and he panicked. "Callea!"

He approached her and grabbed on her shoulder to wake her up. He was shocked when he studied her carefully. Hair covered her face and there was blood on the side of her cheeks and arm. "C-Calle ... a ... "

Is she even Callea? Is she alive? Is she even human? Will she eat him alive?

He let of of Callea when he felt the searing pain on his arm. Then he saw the green eyes of the evil cat gleaming in the dark. He stepped back right away rapidly jump away but prepared once again for another attack by the feline.

He tried to get some salt and throw it to the cat but it attacked his elg. Despite wearing pants, the cat was able to implant its nails on his skin. He tried to shove away the cat. "Let go!"

He shouted when the cat scratched him anew. What will happen to Callea now? How else could he save his bride if he was still on a battle with the evil feline?

He stepped back some more. The next thing he knew, the stuffs behind him toppled over him. He crossed his arms over his head to protect himself from the falling items. When he opened his eyes, all different books and assorted clothes surround him.

He felt hands touch his shoulder. He could hear the sound of his neck as he

slowly turned. His whole being shouted in fear when he saw a hand made of bones holding his shoulder. When he followed the owner thereof, a skull was staring at him.

A skeleton dressed bribal gown was almost hugging him.